Psalm 18

New Coverdale Version

I will love you, O Lord my strength; * the Lord is my rock, my stronghold, and my deliverer,

My Savior, my God, and my might in whom I will trust, * my buckler, the horn of my salvation, and my refuge.

I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; * so shall I be safe from my enemies.

The waves of death encompassed me; * the floods that would swallow me up made me afraid.

The cords of the grave surrounded me; * the snares of death overtook me.

In my trouble I called upon the Lord * and cried unto my God for help.

From his holy temple he heard my voice. * My complaint came before him; it entered into his ears.

The earth trembled and quaked; * the very foundations of the hills shook and were removed, because he was angry.

There went out smoke from his nostrils and a consuming fire out of his mouth; * coals of fire issued from his presence.

He parted the heavens also and came down, * and it was dark under his feet.

He rode upon the cherubim and flew; * he came flying upon the wings of the wind.

He made darkness his secret place; * dark waters and thick clouds were his covering round about him.

At the brightness of his presence his clouds broke forth: * hailstones and coals of fire.

The Lord also thundered out of heaven, and the Most High gave forth his voice: * hailstones and coals of fire.

He sent out his arrows and scattered them; * he cast forth lightning and destroyed them.

The springs of water were seen, and the foundations of the world were uncovered, * at your rebuke, O Lord, at the blasting of the breath of your displeasure.

He reached down from on high to grasp me, * and he took me out of many waters.

He delivered me from my strongest enemy, and from those who hated me, * for they were too mighty for me.

They confronted me in the day of my trouble, * but the Lord upheld me.

He brought me forth into a place of liberty; * he delivered me, because I had found favor in his eyes.

The Lord rewarded me according to my righteous dealing; * according to the cleanness of my hands he recompensed me,

Because I had kept the ways of the Lord * and had not forsaken my God, as the wicked do.

For I had an eye unto all his laws * and did not cast out his commandments from me.

I was also uncorrupt before him * and kept myself from my own wickedness.

Therefore the Lord rewarded me according to my righteous dealing, * and according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.

With the faithful you show yourself faithful, * and with the upright you show yourself upright.

With the pure you show yourself pure, * but with the crooked you show yourself shrewd.

For you shall save the people who are in adversity, * but shall bring down the high looks of the proud.

You also shall light my lamp; * the Lord my God shall turn my darkness into light.

For with you I shall crush a host of men, * and with the help of my God I can leap over a wall.

The way of God is an undefiled way; the word of the Lord also is tried in the fire; * he is the defender of all those who put their trust in him.

For who is God, but the Lord, * or who is a rock, except our God?

It is God who girds me with strength for war * and makes my way perfect.

He makes my feet like the feet of a deer * and sets me up on high.

He teaches my hands to fight, * and my arms shall bend even a bow of bronze.

You have given me the shield of your salvation; * your right hand also shall hold me up, and your loving correction shall make me great.

You have made a broad path for my feet, * and my footsteps shall not slip.

I will follow my enemies and overtake them; * I will not turn again until I have destroyed them.

I will smite them, and they shall not be able to stand. * They shall fall under my feet.

You have girded me with strength for the battle; * you shall throw down my enemies under me.

You have made my enemies turn their backs upon me, * and I shall destroy those who hate me.

They shall cry, but there shall be none to help them; * even unto the Lord shall they cry, but he shall not hear them.

I will beat them as small as dust before the wind; * I will tread them down as mire in the streets.

You shall deliver me from the strivings of the peoples, * and you shall make me the head of the nations.

A people whom I have not known * shall be in subjection under me.

As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me; * and foreigners shall cringe before me.

Foreigners shall lose heart, * and, being afraid, shall come out of their strongholds.

The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock, * and praised be the God of my salvation,

Even the God who sees that I am avenged * and subdues the peoples under me.

It is he who delivers me from my cruel enemies, and lifts me up above my adversaries; * you shall rid me of the wicked.

For this cause will I give thanks unto you, O Lord, among the nations, * and sing praises unto your Name.

Great prosperity he gives unto his King, * and shows loving-kindness to David his Anointed, and unto his seed for evermore.